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Marcus design director Laura Berringer also snapped a few favorites from her visit to QuiltCon. Even better, back here in arctic NYC, she shows off the result of her workshop with the Gee’s Bend quilters, who were this year’s keynote speakers at QuiltCon as well as instructors. Laura was happy to share what was left of her Marcus charm pack with the legendary quilters that put Gee’s Bend, Alabama on the map! You can clearly see the influence of these African American fiber artists in the quilts that caught Laura’s eye, one of the roots of the Modern Quilt movement.

Clearly, with another storm now in progress along the east coast here in the US, we’re all on “snow-verload”, so for just a minute, let’s enjoy some spring inspiration, courtesy of our design director, Laura Berringer…she’s seeing lots of butterflies in the forecast, from Vanessa Bruno runway, Paris Fashion Week, and from House Beautiful magazine, butterflies mix with botanicals… I wonder if we’ll see the trend reflected in any of Laura’s upcoming collections…

As a New York City-based company, Marcus Fabrics, and its employees living throughout the tri-state area, experienced the devastation of Superstorm “Sandy” first-hand in 2012. Still now, nearly a year after the storm, many of the residents along the New Jersey shore are still struggling with the aftermath…

This includes our Guild Connection member, the Pieceful Shores Quilt Guild in Manahawkin, NJ. Months after the storm, guild member Judy Kronmeyer contacted us about “Sandy’s Scraps,” a tribute quilt they were planning. Their local quilt shop, Quilting Possibilities in Forked River, donated some of the fabric for the guild project, including BARNEGAT BAY by Laura Berringer for Marcus Fabrics. Judy wrote:

“In the past you have been very helpful to our Pieceful Shores QG in Manahawkin and I thank you. I’m sure you are aware of the damage Sandy did and how so many homes were damaged or lost.

Our guild is having a show in October and I’m collecting blocks from the 22 ladies that were affected by the storm and putting them together for a Sandy’s Scraps quilt.

I’ve gotten 10 blocks so far and can’t wait to see the others…such talented ladies we have. We’re unable to use our regular meeting place, and the one on LBI (Long Beach Island) is being utilized by the health department. so we have scrambled for new meeting places over the last several months, meeting at our local libraries mostly. But we are strong and quilters and will find a permanent place no matter what.

Well, that’s the story. It’s been a trying time for so many so I hope this tribute will help.” —- Judy Kronmeyer, Waretown, NJ

Soon after, Judy sent us an update on Millie, one of the guild’s members who was most affected by the storm:

“Millie is going to help with Sandy’s scrap quilt, even though she is still in the process of recovering from Sandy. She spent several months in various temporary quarters until May where she moved back to her house but has only been living on the second floor with a makeshift kitchenette. She had no hot water but had electricity so she alternately shared tasks with her son, who lives across the lagoon. Her electric box was above the water line in the garage. She had to replace everything on the bottom floor; appliances, flooring, paneling, walls, cabinets, furniture, all the bathroom fixtures, hot water heater. The telephone company provided a new third generation land line phone. She says she was lucky to have had insurance as many of her neighbors didn’t. Nine months later, she says she’s way ahead of her son and neighbors in getting ‘back to normal’. Out of 4300 homes in Beach Haven West, she thinks maybe 300 were not devastated by Sandy. Her sewing machine was on the top floor but she still hasn’t sewn anything in all this time. She said she is now motivated to help with the quilt”.

View the information contained on the quilt label:

Thank you to the Pieceful Shores Quilt Guild for sharing their quilt and their story with us, and for proving again the strength, resilience and creativity of quilters in times of hardship. The tribute quilt is beautiful, and we wish Millie and everyone else affected a full return to normalcy.

NOTE: With all of its many challenges in the past year, still “the show must go on”. We’re happy to announce that the guild’s show, “Setting Sails,” takes place on October 4th and 5th, 2013, Manahawkin, NJ. For details visit www.piecefulshoresquiltguild.org

Kansas City — It was great to see so many of our friends, colleagues and customers again at International Quilt Market last week, where we introduced lots of new product — look for our latest to hit your favorite quilt shops in the coming months! Meanwhile, here are a few pix from the Marcus booth…